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The healthcare industry has been expanding and improving its information systems. Developments in health information networks are enhancing communication between physicians, as well as patient care and privacy. Collaboration in the information highway, however, will only benefit health organizations that require data integration and specialized information. A survey indicates that the Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs) is one of the largest health information networks.

This paper provides an account of how the Global Earth Observation Catastrophe Assessment Network (GEO-CAN) was formed to facilitate a rapid damage assessment after the 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake. GEO-CAN emerged from the theory of crowdsourcing and remote sensing-based damage interpretation and represents a new paradigm in post-disaster damage assessment. The GEO-CAN community, working with the World Bank (WB), the United Nation Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) led the way for a rapid Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) utilizing remote-sensing based analysis as the primary source of information for building damage. The results of the GEO-CAN damage assessment were incorporated into the final PDNA framework developed by the WB-UNOSAT-JRC and adopted by the Haitian government. The GEO-CAN initiative provides valuable lessons on multi-agency collaboration, rapid and implementable damage assessment protocols under extreme situations for the disaster management profession, developmental organizations, and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent earthquakes have caused unacceptably high death tolls. We, the editors of the World Housing Encyclopedia, believe that reducing such an unacceptably high loss of life from earthquakes is the most important challenge facing the global earthquake engineering community. This paper acknowledges the continuing disparity between life loss from earthquakes in developing and developed countries, and the increasing vulnerability in developing countries. A sampling of current efforts to improve construction practices includes the publication of earthquake tips in India, construction manuals in Colombia, and the formation of various international networks to promote collaboration and information sharing. Future possibilities include more rewards for research into inadequately engineered construction, greater emphasis on small-scale, local efforts, and a stronger emphasis on advocacy. We believe that all of us, as earthquake professionals, have a responsibility to make the built environment safer worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses about health information revolution in United States. Function of information networks; Integrated delivery networks through grass roots approach; Development of community services networks; Empowering influence of collaborative technologies.

This paper examines perceptions of the threat posed by a volcano in Washington State. In particular, interest is focused upon the level of perceived risk, the sources and frequency of information receipt and the level of confidence of the affected population in the adequacy of the information received. A probability sample of 230 citizens was taken from seven communities situated near Mt. St. Helens, Washington, which resumed volcanic activity in March 1980 after a 123-year dormant period. The data analyses indicate that intensive dissemination of hazard information during a short period of imminent threat of disaster sensitized people to the pending event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]